Fire alarm



May 7, 1929- 'l R. c. coFFEY 1,711,920

FIRE ALARM Filed om. 5o, 1926 ENTOR vL/O @wim ATTO R N EY WITNESS;

CII

Patented May 7, 1929.

UNTED STATES ROBERT C. COFFEY, OF GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLINA.

FIRE ALARM.

Application filed October 30, 1926.

This invention relates toffire alarms for buildings, and contemplates a structure wherein an audible signal is sounded at the place where the lire occurs, and also in the room or sleeping quarters of' the watchman or anitor of he building, while at the same time red lights are illuminated to indicate the location oic 'the lire within the building, and explosive discharged siniultaneously with the sounding of the alarm.

rlhe nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detail description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, 'the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement or' parts as claimed.

1n the drawing forming part ci this application like numerals o' reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein Figure 1 is a view in elevation ot the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is an end elevation.

1n carrying out the invention, the mechanism is mounted on a suitable base or support 10, and embodies a receptacle 11 adapted to be either inflated, or filled with liquid for the purpose off holding the walls extended, and adapted to collapse when the iluid is permitted to escape therefrom in a manner to be presently described. Communicating with this receptacle is a hollow fusible tube 12 which can be arranged about the room or building in any suitable manner, and which tube when melted or destroyed by heat allows the fluid from the receptacle to escape, causing the receptacle to collapse.

llflounted upon the base 10 is a clock mechanism indicated Generally at 13 and including an audible signal in the nature of a bell 14, the hammer ior which is indicated at 15. rllhis hammer is normally held immovable by means of a lever 16 which is pivotcd as at 17. Carried by the lower end the lever 16 is a block 18 adapted to bear against the receptacle 11, and when the latter is fil ed with fluid, the lever 16 occupies the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, wherein it will be noted that the upper end of the lever engages the escapeinent mechanism ior the alarm, thereby holding the hammer 15 immovable. rlhe lever 16 is held in this position against the influence of a. spring pressed arm 18 which is pivoted on a suitable bracket 19, and extends across the lever Serial No. 145,288.

16 as clearly shown in Figure 1. The free end of the arm 18 is connected with a coil spring 20 which in turn is connected with the base or support 10, and tensioned when the lever is in the position shown. Consequently when the fusible tube 12 is destroyed, the receptacle 11 collapses with the escape of the fluid therefrom, whereupon the spring 20 operates the arm 18, which in turn rocks the lever 16 upon its pivot 17, in a direction to release the hammer 15. The clock mechanism 13 then functions to sound the signal 14 as will be readily understood.

An electric light bulb 21 preferably red in color, is included in a normally open circuit with a switch including a fixed contact 22 and a movable contact 23, the latter being in the nature of a pivot blade extended beneath the lever 16, and normally spaced from the lined contact 22. The bulb 21 is mounted upon the base 10, while also included in 'this circuit is another bulb, not shown, but adapted to be located in the watchman or janitors quarters of the building, so that when the alarm 1a is sounded in the manner above described, the switch blade 23, being disposed in the path of movement of the lever 16, is moved into engagement with the contact 22 to close the circuit to these bulbs.

Mounted on the base 10 is a holder 24 for a cap or other suitable explosive adapted to be tired by the trigger 25 which is pivoted as at 26, simultaneously with the release or' the escapement mechanism of the clock by the lever 16. In other words, the trigger 25 cooperates with a trip 27, which as clearly shown in Figure 1, has one end bearing` against the lever 16, and its other end oifset as at 28 to engage the adjacent end of the trigger 25. The trigger is connected with one end of a spring 29, the other end of which is attached to the base 1() as shown. Vhen the lever 16 is in its normal position, the trigger 25 is held in the position shown in Figure 2, against the influence of the spring 29, by reason of its engagement with the trip element 27, the latter being fulcrumed in a suitable bracket 30. Manifestly when the receptacle 11 is deflated or collapsed, and the lever 16 moved upon its pivot in the manner above described, the trip element 27 is actuated, or rocked upon its pivot, to release the trigger 25, whereupon the latter is forcibly moved under the influence of the spring 29, in the direction of the holder 24, thereby irin the explosive arranged in the holder as Wlll be readily understood.

While it is believed that from the :toregoing description, the nature and advantages oit the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood, that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall Within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is :N

l. A signal including a movable operating element, a lever pivoted between its ends and adapted to normally hold said operating element immovable, pressure means engaging one end of the lever for holding the latter in its normal position, and a spring influenced arm arranged at a right angle to said lever and operable to move the latter to an inactive position when said pressure means is reduced.

2. A signal comprising a movable operating element, a lever fulcrumed between its ends and normally arranged to hold said element imn'iovable, means exerting a pressure against said lever to hold it in its normal position, an arm arranged across said lever, a spring exerting a pull upon said arm whereby the latter moves the lever to an inactive position when said pressure is reduced, a switch included in a normally open circuit and including a movable contact adapted to be operated by the lever to close the circuit as said lever assumes an inactive position.

3. A signal comprising a movable operating element, a lever fulcrumed between its ends and normally holding said element immovable, a collapsible receptacle normally exerting a pressure against said lever to hold it in its active position, an arm arranged across said lever, and resilient means exerting a pull upon said arm to move the lever to an inactive position when said receptacle collapses. f

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

ROBERT C. COFFEY. 

